Town Hall Meeting on Flood Mitigation
9/29/11
Maili Elementary School
Sen. Shimabukuro welcomed attendees at 6:30PM.
Councilman Tom Berg, Rep. Karen Awana, and Rep. Jo Jordan briefly addressed the attendees.
Rep. Karen Awana introduced the state and city representatives for the evening.
Current State – Identification of problems/issues
Ed Teixeira – State Civil Defense
 Flooding in 2011 was worse than 1996 – lots of photos shown that illustrated the heavy damage
 “heart bleeds for people who live there” -- Paakea Rd. and surrounding area
 Drainage needed – old culverts have been filled in by private land owners
 Capital improvement projects were not funded after the 2001 plan
 Act 76 allows civil defense to do a fact-finding site visit, identify problems, and follow up for
resolution
Derrick Choy -- ??
 Flooding is a natural occurrence. We built up a flood plain, now need to manage floods, cannot
prevent them
 Four main factors result in flooding
1. Lack of maintenance of existing drainage – blocking existing stream or drainage way
2. Increased debris has not been cleared from streams (private, city, and state owned)
3. Illegal dumping of rubbish in streambeds – If you see this, call Environmental Hotline to
report it 768-3300
4. Lack of storm drain system
Glenn Okimoto – Dept. of Transportation
 DOT is responsible for Farrington Highway, but not for the other roads affected (Paakea, Iliili,
etc.)
 There is $8M in the budget for flood mitigation for the Farrington Highway, but it cannot be
used for other roads
Proposed Solutions
Ed Teixeira
 Drainage expansion and construction between Paakea and Iliili Rds.
 Revisit watershed study and identify areas that warrant feasibility study
 Identify projects and sponsors
 Determine best use of legislative funding for flood mitigation
 Initiate mitigation grant proposal process for eligible projects

Big question: what projects should we nominate for implementation given the limited funding?
2001 study identified multiple CIPs that totaled $36M. The current amount allocated is $11M –
not nearly enough to do everything on the list.
Derrick Choy
 Before you ask for government assistance, what can you do for yourself? What are the nonstructural flood-proofing measures home/landowners can do to protect their property and
structures
1. Elevate your home off the ground
2. Relocate
3. Dry flood-proofing such as rebuilding with concrete or brick
4. Manage the flood plain on your property (clear stream beds and culverts of debris)
Questions by Community Members in Attendance
1. What’s the Navy doing to help?
 Victor Flint showed pictures of very large and multiple culverts that the Navy regularly maintains
by keeping them clear of debris and keeping the grass cut low
 Also showed pictures of culverts and drainpipes right outside the Navy fences that are clocked
by rubbish and overgrown
 Community members commented on the Navy’s positive impact and stewardship in this regard
2. Who has the key to open the gates on the emergency access road and how do residents get in
touch with them?
 HPD (Kapolei and Waianae substations)
 Volunteer Civil Defense members
3. Why aren’t private landowners (Aggregate) part of the discussion?
 No answer
4. What is the process to compel information about the Makaha Bridge Replacement and stream
channel design?
 DOT will follow up
5. Where did all the money ($13M) go that the feds sent to Oahu after the 1996 floods?
 Went to emergency public assistance, not to fund future flood mitigation
 FEMA money is for loans, not grants
6. Was there a town hall meeting after the 2001 study?
 Study was presented to Waianae Neighborhood Board
 Public meeting was held at Army Recreation Center
7. How much money was spent on the 2001 study?
 $200,00 – money came from USDA and other federal agencies (not state funds?)
8. Were residents ever notified that they were living in a flood zone?
 Study was vetted with agencies but not presented to residents living in impacted areas
 Purpose of the study was to validate issues using an engineering model
9. Were any of the proposals recommended in the study ever implemented?
 No
10. Were chicken and pig farmers notified that their animal waste would cause a health hazard in a
flooding situation?
 Not sure
11. Any plans for flood mitigation in the severely affected areas in the next three months (before
the rainy season starts)?
 No
12. Who pays for sand removal at Ulehawa Stream?
 Will follow up
Other comments:
1. Private landowners need to be part of the discussion.
2. The suggestion that residents relocate (sell their family homes and move somewhere else) was
offensive to many.
3. It was suggested by more than one resident that neighbors get together and help each other to
keep the stream beds clear
4. There has been too much finger-pointing and not enough cooperation among all parties
involved (agencies, landowners, feds, city, and state)
5. FEMA’s emergency funds have too many strings attached – loans, not grants
6. Sump area is a key area and mitigation work could start there.